Maine, United States The American lobster, Homarus americanus, fishery in Maine dates back over 15 years and, today, is the most lucrative fishery in Maine, worth approximately $3 million (ME DMR, 27). Species American lobster, Homarus americanus Length: Maximum recorded size is over 3 feet long Legal Size: Around 1 pound (5-7 years old) Distribution: Newfoundland to North Carolina Age: Can live up to 1 years Habitat: Juvenile (cryptic habitats) Adolescents (coastal and offshore) Adults (deeper waters with seasonal migrations) Photo courtesy of Julie Defilippi Gear Lobsters enter from the side of the trap. Traps are made of vinyl-coated steel mesh. Trap features include a kitchen, parlor or bedroom, escape vents and ghost panels. Traps are baited with a bait bag, usually filled with herring or mackerel parts. The gauge pictured here is used to determine if a lobster is within the legal carapace size range.
Western Australia The west coast rock lobster managed fishery is the most valuable single-species fishery in Australia, bringing annual profits to the State of Western Australia of $A25 to $A35 million (Fisheries Management Paper no. 192, 25), and is recognized internationally as an effectively managed fishery. Species Western rock lobster, Panulirus cygnus Legal size: Maximum Size: South of 3 degrees, 115mm(females) North of 3 degrees, 15mm Minimum Size: November 15 to January 31, 77mm February 1 to June 3, 76mm Color: Brownish purple to pale color. At 4 5 years old, western rock lobsters change their coloring from red to white and migrate offshore to the fishery. These lobsters will darken in color, without molting, and again be nonmigrating reds by February. A red lobster has a higher market price than a white lobster. Gear Western Australia commercial rock lobster pots. a) Beehive pots with three escape gaps or a three segmented escape gap. b) Batten pots with three escape gaps or a four segmented escape gap. Source: Department of Fisheries Commercial Fishing for Western Rock Lobster
Western Australia Fishing Seasons and Zones Western Australia commercial rock lobster fishery map, including seasons and zones. Source: Department of Fisheries Commercial Fishing for Western Rock Lobster Legislation and Regulations Fishery Management West Coast Rock Lobster Management Plan 1993 West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery License Fish Resources Management Act 1994 Total Allowable Effort (TAE) Individual Transferable Efforts (ITE)
Western Australia Catch, Effort and CPUE Western Australia Rock Lobster Fishery (1944-26) 16 2.5 14 Catch (million kg) effort (million pot lifts) 12 1 8 6 4 2. 1.5 1..5 Catch rate (kg/pot lift) 2 44/45 49/5 54/55 59/6 64/65 69/7 74/75 79/8 84/85 89/9 94/95 99/ 4/5 Season. Catch Effort CPUE Catch, effort and CPUE are presented for the Western Australia rock lobster fishery from 1944 to 26. The x-axis displays the fishing season, the primary y-axis displays catch in millions of kilograms and effort in millions of pot lifts, and the secondary y-axis displays catch rate in kg per pot lift. Data are provided by Nick Caputi and Wilf Lehre. Current Landings Season 7/8 892t References Department of Fisheries Commercial Fishing for Western Rock Lobster http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/pub/commfishwestrl/index.php?26 Department of Fisheries. 25. Integrated Fisheries Management Report Western Rock Lobster Resource. February 25. Fisheries Management Paper no. 192. Department of Fisheries. 168 St. Georges Terrace, Perth, WA.
Southern Australia The southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, is the primary species supporting the South Australia rock lobster commercial fishery and a recreational fishery. Important by-catch species include octopus, Octopus maorum, and giant crab, Pseudocarcinus gigas (Zacharin, 1997a). Species Southern (red) rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii Carapace Length: Maximum Size: 23.5 cm (male), 18 cm (female) Minimum Size: 1 cm (male), 9 cm (female) Distribution: New Zealand, South Pacific Age: Can live up to 3 years Habitat: In and around reefs at depths of 5 to 275 meters Photo Courtesy of New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries Southern Zone Facts In 22/3, the southern rock lobster fisherycaught 1,766 tons and had a gross value of $A63.8 million (EconSearch Pty Ltd, 24). Most of the boats in the southern zone fish from Robe and Port MacDonnell. There are currently 181 licenses in the fishery and the TACC is 1,9 tons (W. Zacharin, personal communication). The fishery is executed using steel mesh pots with a top entry. Each pot must have two escape gaps 18 apart that measure 57 mm high x 28 mm wide with no obstructions. The minimum and maximum number of pots per license are 2 and 1, respectively (Primary Industries and Resources South Australia, 27). Northern Zone Facts In 22/3, the northern rock lobster fishery caught 595 tons and had a gross value of $A18.8 million (EconSearch Pty Ltd, 24). During the 23/4 fishing season, the TACC was 625 tons. There are currently 69 licenses in the fishery and the TACC is 525 tons (W. Zacharin, personal communication). The fishery is executed using steel mesh pots with a top entry. Each pot has the option of two escape gaps that measure 55 mm high x 15 mm wide with no obstructions or a minimum 5 mm mesh covering the pot. The minimum and maximum numbers of pots per license are 4 and 1, respectively (Primary Industries and Resources South Australia, 27).
Southern Australia Fishing Zones Image courtesy of SARDI In 1977, the northern and southern zones of the rock lobster fishery were established (Linnane et al., 25). Both zones are currently governed under the Fisheries Management Act 27. The establishment of a Fisheries Council comprised of members from commercial, recreational and indigenous fisheries continued a co-management approach. The general regulations are listed in the Fisheries (General) Regulations 27, which also governs recreational fishers. The specific regulations are described in the Fisheries (Scheme of Management - Rock Lobster Fisheries) Regulations 26.
Southern Australia 14 Catch and Effort South Australia Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (197-25) ITQ Implemented 9 12 8 1 7 6 Catch (t) 8 6 4 5 4 3 2 Effort ('potlifts) 2 1 197 1975 198 1985 199 1995 2 25 Year Catch and Effort South Australia Southern Zone Rock Lobster (197-25) 25 ITQ Implemented 25 2 2 Catch (t) 15 1 15 1 Effort ('potlifts) 5 5 197 1975 198 1985 199 1995 2 25 Year Catch in tons (red bars) and effort in ' pot lifts (blue line) in the Northern and Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery from 197 to 25 (Data courtesy of A. Linnane)
Southern Australia Management Milestones Northern Zone (Zacharin, 1997b) Date Management Milestone 1968 Limited entry declared 1985 1% pot reduction; maximum number of pots 65 1992 1% pot reduction; maximum number of pots 6 1993 1 week closure during season 1994 LML increased from 98.5mm to 12mm CL; further 1 week closure 1995 Further 1 week closure added 1997 Flexible closures introduced 1999 Extra 3 days of fixed closure added 2 LML increased from 12mm to 15mm CL 21 7% effort reduction 22 8% effort reduction 23 TACC implemented for the 23/4 season at 625 tons; VMS introduced 24 TACC reduced to 52 tons for the 24/5 season; vessel length and power restrictions removed Southern Zone (Zacharin, 1997a) Date Milestone 1958 Closed season for females from June 1 to October 31 and for males from October 1 to October 31 1967 Pot and boat limit introduced, no new boats to operate in the then South Eastern Zone 1968 Limited entry declared, compulsory commercial catch log 1978 June, July, October closed 198 Winter closure declared. Season from October 1 to April 3. 1984 15% pot reduction 1987 Buyback of 4 licenses (2455 pots) 1993 April closed. TACC implemented for 1993/94 season. 21/2 TACC increased by 5 tons to 177 tons. 23/4 TACC increased by 13 tons to 19 tons. May opened on a trial basis. References EconSearch Pty Ltd. 24. Economic Indicators for the SA Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery222/3. March 24. Linnane, A., Ward, T.M., McGarvey, R., Xiao, Y. and Feenstra, J. 25. Northern Zone Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) Fishery 23/4. SARDI Aquatic Sciences. Publication No. RD3/142-2. May 25. Primary Industries and Resources South Australia. 27. South Australian Fisheries Resources Current Status and Recent Trends 26. South Australian Fisheries Management Series. Paper No. 49. 27. Zacharin, W., Ed. 1997a. Management Plan for the South Australia Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery. Adelaide, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia. Paper No. 29. December 1997. Zacharin, W., Ed. 1997b. Management Plan for the South Australia Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery. Adelaide, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia. Paper No. 28. December 1997. Zacharin, Will. 7/5/25. Primary Industries and Resources South Australia. Adelaide, SA. Personal Communication
New Zealand The spiny lobster fishery, comprised primarily of the southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii (Koura in Maori), was valued at $634 (NZD) million in 28 and is the most valuable inshore fishery in New Zealand (Statistics New Zealand). Photo Courtesy of New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries Four Phases of Management 1. 1937 to 1963: characterized by the view that the resource was both small and limited and strict entry controls were employed. 2. 1963 to 1979: characterized by the loosening of restrictions based on the view that fisheries resources were underexploited. There were many new entrants during this phase. 3. 198-199:in response to declining catches and economic stress. In the early 197 s, the industry began petitioning for limited entry. In 1977, the Minister of Fisheries declared a moratorium on the issuance of lobster permits (Annala, 1983(a)). On January 25, 198, the Minister of Fisheries issued a Policy Statement for the Rock Lobster Controlled Fisheries which outlined the implementation of limited entry in the fishery and emphasized the desire to disrupt traditional fishing as little as possible (Annala, 1983(b)). The lobster fishery was divided into 1 Controlled Fisheries and a restricted number of licenses were issued by the Fisheries Licensing Authority. 4. Began in 199 and continues to the present day. On April 1, 199, the lobster fishery implemented an incentive based policy and became part of the Quota Management System. Species Southern (red) rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii Carapace Length: Maximum Size: 23.5 cm (male), 18 cm (female) Minimum Size: 1 cm (male), 9 cm (female) Legal Size: Around 25-2 cm (5-1 years old) Distribution: New Zealand, South Pacific Age: Can live up to 3 years Habitat: In and around reefs at depths of 5 to 275 meters Gear Pots are usually made of steel mesh and can be square or round. Lobsters enter from the top of the pot. Pots are baited with a piece of fish.
New Zealand Fishing Zones Image courtesy of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council
New Zealand Catch and CPUE Rock Lobster Catch and CPUE 1945 to 1998 6 1977: Moratorium on permits 198: Limited Entry 199: QMS introduced 3 5 2.5 4 2 Catch (metric tons) 3 1.5 CPUE (kg/potlift) Catch CPUE 2 1 1.5 194 1945 195 1955 196 1965 197 1975 198 1985 199 1995 2 Assessment Year Rock Lobster Catch (1945 to 1998) and CPUE (1979 to 1997). The three major management milestones have been indicated with labeled, dashed lines. Source: Starr et al., 21. Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is set annually based upon the Maximum Sustainable Yield. A portion of the TAC is allocated to the commercial fishing sector and is known as the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC). The TACC was 2,981 metric tons for the 28/9 fishing year. References Annala, J.H. 1983(a). New Zealand Rock Lobsters: Biology and Fishery. Fisheries Research Division, Occasional Publication No. 42 Annala, J.H. 1983(b). The introduction of limited entry: The New Zealand Rock Lobster fishery. Marine Policy 17 p.11-18. Starr, P.J., Bentley, N. and Maunder, M.N. 21. Assessment of the NSN and NSS stocks of red rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) for 1998. New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Research Document 99/34. 45 p. Statistics New Zealand http://search.stats.govt.nz/nav/ct2/environment_naturalresources/ct1/environment/
Canada The American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery in Atlantic Canada dates back to the midto late- 18s and today is the most lucrative fishery along much of Canada s Atlantic coast. Species American lobster, Homarus americanus Length: Maximum recorded size is over 3 feet long Legal Size: Around 1 pound (5-7 years old) Distribution: Newfoundland to North Carolina Age: Can live up to 1 years Habitat: Juvenile (cryptic habitats) Adolescents (coastal and offshore) Adults (deeper waters with seasonal migrations) Photo courtesy of Julie Defilippi Gear Lobsters enter from the side of the trap. Traps are made of vinyl-coated steel mesh. Trap features include a kitchen, parlor or bedroom, escape vents and ghost panels. Traps are baited with a bait bag, usually filled with herring or mackerel parts. The gauge pictured here is used to determine if a lobster is within the legal carapace size range. Each fisher has 3-4 traps.
Canada Lobster Fishing Areas (LFA) Source: Pezzack et al., 26 Source: DFO Canada Management Limited entry Season: Ice leaves (fall) to July The legal sizes range between 71 and 84 mm according to the Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) Protection of berried females Gear restrictions Voluntary v-notch
Canada Landings and CPUE Landings and CPUE LFA 34 Landings (thousands metric tons) 25 2 15 1 5 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1.5 CPUE (lbs/haul) 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 24 Season Landings (metric tons) CPUE Data source Pezzack et al., 26 New in 29 Short-Term Transitional Measures (STM) Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures (ALSM) References Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/index-eng.htm Pezzack D.S., Tremblay J., Claytor R., Frail C.M. and Smith S. 26. Stock Status and Indicators for the lobster Fishery in LFA 34 Research Document 26/1 147 pp.
Maine, United States Stock/Management Areas Management Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission managed species (Amendment 3 of the Interstate Fisheries Management Plan) Area management of 7 Lobster Conservation Management Areas Maine Zones Limited Entry Size Limits Conservation Measures (v-notch, berried females)
Maine, United States Landings ME and Coastwide Landings 195-28 Landings in Live Pounds (millions) 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 195 196 197 198 199 2 21 Year ME Coastwide Data courtesy of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program 29 ME State Licenses and Trap Tags Licenses: 5927 Trap Tags: 3,4,858 References Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program http://www.accsp.org Maine Department of Marine Resources http://www.maine.gov/dmr/rm/lobster/index.htm